Contents
Peony Coral (Coral) refers to hybrids obtained by American breeders. It has an unusual color of petals with a coral tint, for which it got its name. In addition to a beautiful appearance, the plant is resistant to adverse environmental conditions.
Features of coral peonies
Coral peonies are distinguished by powerful strong peduncles
Most gardens grow ordinary herbaceous or tree peonies with white, burgundy or pink flowers, but there are unique hybrid varieties with coral shades of petals. Large buds of double, semi-double or single structure, bright at the beginning of flowering, but eventually fade to apricot, cream and white tones. Coral peonies do not require a garter, they grow well during the growing season, forming more than a dozen stems per year. Hybrid varieties are hardier than usual, tolerate cold and heat, and are less susceptible to all kinds of diseases.
Coral peonies have thick openwork leaves and powerful stems. They combine the characteristic features of tree and herbaceous species. In autumn, all leaves and shoots are pruned. In areas with unfavorable and cool weather in summer, preventive treatment against fungal diseases should be carried out.
How peonies bloom Coral
Most coral peonies don’t have a very pleasant faint scent, so they are rarely cut into bouquets, used more in garden decoration. For abundant and lush flowering, timely dressings and treatments for diseases are required.
Varieties of coral peonies
Coral peonies are hybrids obtained from crossing different species and varieties. The most popular are the varieties described below.
Coral Magic
Coral Magic is a herbaceous hybrid that was bred in 1998. It has semi-double bright coral flowers with a red-orange tint. The diameter of the corolla at full opening is about 16 cm. The height of the bush with strong stems reaches 80 cm. It is distinguished by early flowering and lush light green foliage. The aroma is absent.
Hybrid Coral Magic is resistant to fading in bright sun
Coral Beach
Coral Beach (Coral Beach) – lush flowering and delicate color of flowers delight gardeners. This hybrid is an early flowering semi-double peonies with a cupped corolla that changes color during flowering from coral pink to light apricot. The height of a strong bush is about 90 cm. The hybrid is drought-resistant and is not affected by gray rot.
Peony Coral Beach wins two awards
Coral Fay
Coral Fay is a semi-double hybrid, obtained by selection in 1968. Peony is very bright, blooms earlier than other varieties. Glossy petals with a coral-pink sheen have a light spot at the core and a bright red base. Flowers do not fade in the sun for a long time, retaining the richness of color, and attracting glances. Powerful flower stalks do not need a garter.
Dense bush with carved foliage grows up to 1 m
Coral Suprim
Coral Supreme (Coral Supreme) – a hybrid combines unpretentiousness in care and high decorative effect. Blooming large double flowers have a rich pink-coral color in the first days. The height of the bush is from 90 to 110 cm.
After three days from the beginning of flowering, peonies change, noticeably brightening in the sun.
Topeka Coral
Topeka Coral is a beautiful 1975 hybrid related to Glowing Raspberry Rose. It has terry red-pink corollas with a diameter of 17 cm, which pleasantly and unobtrusively smell of musk. The bushes are strong and low – up to 70 cm.
Topeka Coral blooms early
Coral en Gold
Coral’n Gold is an unusually bright and attractive hybrid peony, which was bred in 1981. Large coral-apricot corollas are cup-shaped, simple in shape, with golden stamens in the center, resembling a fluffy ball. For strong stems about 90 cm high, support is not required. Peonies do not smell, have an early flowering period.
Peony Coral`n Gold has an Award of Landscape Merit
Pink Hawaiian Coral
Pink Hawaiian Coral (Pink Hawaiian Coral) – received in 1981 from a peony of a foreign and milky-flowered Coral. Large semi-double flowers have a diameter of up to 20 cm, they exude a delicate sweetish aroma. The corollas are semi-double, the color of the petals is creamy yellow in the center and light pink on the outside, when fully dissolved, an apricot hue appears. The height of strong stems is from 60 to 95 cm, the hybrid is frost-resistant and needs good care.
Early and abundant flowering begins in May
Coral Pink
Coral Pink is a hybrid variety obtained in 1937 from the peony lactiflora Coral. Terry light pink-coral corollas have a diameter of 12 cm, they are distinguished by a medium-late flowering period. The plant has strong stems up to 70 cm high, and light green leaves.
Flowers do not have a pronounced aroma
Coral Altar
Coral altar (Altar Shan Hu Tai) is a tall tree-like peony with large beautiful flowers. The height of the shoots can reach 1,5 m, the diameter of the buds is up to 20 cm. The leaves are large, bright green, give the plant a decorative effect even after flowering. The flowers are coral-pink with serrated petals and a light sweet fragrance.
Variety Altar Shan Hu Tai is undemanding in care, shows resistance to diseases
Coral Queen
Coral Queen is a herbaceous peony with white and pink double flowers, was bred in 1937. The buds are dense, rose-shaped, the diameter of the corolla is about 15 cm. The flowering period is late, the aroma is pleasant, strongly pronounced. The height of the shoots reaches 80 cm.
Pale pink petals have lilac touches inside
Cameo Lalebay
Cameo Lullaby – beautiful buds open like tulips. Corollas have a simple shape, they consist of dense petals of pale pink color, arranged in three rows. This interspecific hybrid was obtained in 2000.
The height of the Kameo Lalebay bush is about 65 cm, the flowering period is early
Cora Lewis
Cora Luise – sprawling bushes with dark green leaves and strong grassy shoots up to 50 cm high. Semi-double inflorescences have an original color – pale pink petals have a dark purple center. Flowering begins in late spring.
Variety Cora Luise belongs to the group of itoh peonies, resistant to diseases and unpretentious
Coral Charm
Coral Charm (Coral Charm) – a hybrid was bred in 1964 from a foreign peony Sunshine (Sunshine). Semi-double corollas of coral color with a pink tint fade over time, acquiring a peach tone. The stems are strong, reach a height of 90 cm, the diameter of the flowers is about 18 cm, the flowering period is early.
Buds are not used for cutting due to an unpleasant aroma.
Anne Berry Cousins
Ann Berry Cousins - semi-double peonies of medium early flowering. The diameter of the corolla with coral-pink petals is 16 cm, the height of dense shoots is up to 80 cm.
The Ann Berry Cousins hybrid was obtained in 1972
Coral Sunset
Coral Sunset (Coral Sunset) – blooms very abundantly, all flowers open at once, their core is terry, bright yellow. Corollas have a pure salmon color at the beginning of flowering, and then they begin to lighten. By the end, the peonies become almost white with a soft pink tint. In addition to beautiful flowering, the variety has other advantages – it reproduces well and does not require complex care.
Coral Sunset – a magnificent 81 year old coral hybrid
Rules of landing and care
To make the flower bed happy for a longer time, you can plant several coral-colored peonies with different flowering periods nearby. The further development of flowers depends on the correct location. Coral hybrids, in contrast to species, after 10 years of age, begin to bloom worse. They grow rapidly, require transplantation and division every 7-8 years.
Before landing, they inspect the delenki. They should not have a high hemp at the site of the stem cut, rotten and blackened areas. If available, the first ones are cut to the kidney, the rhizome is cleaned if it has moldy and dark spots, treated with a fungicide solution, the sections are rubbed with ash and dried for about a day.
Further care after landing includes:
- watering;
- top dressing;
- weeding;
- protection from diseases and pests.
Mulch is used to keep the flower bed free of weeds.
Recommended dates
Planting a Coral peony is best done in early autumn, when there is no longer a bright sun, and there are many dormant buds on the rhizome of the flower. In the spring, the vegetation of the plant begins very early, which slows down the successful growth of the root system.
Site selection and soil preparation
It is important to choose the right place for the Coral herbaceous peony, guided not only by personal taste, but also by the requirements of the plant. You can not plant this flower near large trees and aggressive perennials, its root system does not like competition. Choose a sunny or slightly shaded flower bed. In strong shade, the peony will grow poorly and will not bloom. A lowland with stagnant moisture is not suitable for planting, the plant does not like the close occurrence of groundwater (up to 1 m from the surface).
A wide and shallow hole will ensure that the Coral peony will locate the roots in the upper part of the soil. This will facilitate care, because it is easier to water and fertilize the flower. Flowering will become more lush, more flower buds will form. It is recommended to make a pit for planting delenki with a depth of 40 cm, a diameter of 50 cm. Its size depends on the size of the Coral peony rhizome and the composition of the soil on the site.
In order for the flowers to grow well, they need light and fertile soil, it is added to the planting hole. Garden chernozem is mixed with sand, obtaining a breathable soil mixture in which the roots develop well and do not turn black. The pit is prepared in advance so that the soil settles a little, and the Coral peony does not go deep into the ground over time.
Before planting, the hole is well moistened if the weather is not rainy.
A nutrient substrate is laid at the bottom of the pit, containing all the elements necessary for the development of the seedling. It consists of:
- compost or humus – up to 20% or about 2/3 of a bucket;
- wood ash – 200-300 g;
- complex mineral fertilizers, for example, Fertika – 100-120 g, or double superphosphate – 1 tbsp.;
- dolomite or limestone flour – 1 tbsp.
The lower nutrient layer of the pit is sprinkled with a small amount of ordinary garden soil, which passes water and air well. About 10-15 cm should remain until the upper border of the planting hole. A handful of sand is poured under the division itself, it will help prevent stagnant water at the roots and rotting of the plant.
How to plant
The peony is placed in a hole in such a way that the buds look vertically upwards, and the rhizome is in a horizontal position.
To prevent an increase in soil acidity and rotting of the root system, the delenka is sprinkled with wood ash and sand. Then fill the hole flush with the soil.
The buds of the delenka are left 5 cm below the ground level, if planted differently, they will freeze in winter
High planting Coral Peony will result in poor annual blooms. Too much root penetration in the planting hole will give the same result. At the end of the work, the plant is watered.
Peculiarities of growing
Coral peonies do not like abundant watering, because of this spots appear on the roots, putrefactive processes begin. A little thirst is more beneficial for these plants than strong soil moisture. However, if there is not enough moisture, it is difficult to notice on the leaves. First of all, the kidneys of the next year suffer, they grow poorly. In dry weather, water the plants at least once a week.
Peony roots love air; when a crust forms on the surface of the soil, plants stop growing. If the ground is too wet, the processes of rotting of the root system begin. To keep it loose, it is covered with sawdust or other mulching material.
During flowering, peonies do not require care, they only need to be watered in dry weather. Coral hybrids do not need props, large flowers are perfectly kept on powerful stems.
The bushes are given a neat appearance by cutting off the upper part of the peduncles
Carry out top dressing and mulching of the soil. From the second decade of August to mid-September, adult overgrown bushes are divided. Before starting the procedure, the stems are cut, and the bush is dug at a certain distance.
Carefully remove excess soil with your hands, wash off the rest with a stream of water. To make the division easier, lay out the roots for several hours in the air for drying, after which they become not so fragile. The plant is cut with a clean knife into several sections, and planted in prepared planting pits.
The fragments of the roots are not thrown away, they are buried in the ground by 5 cm in a horizontal position around the main bush. New buds will grow on them, and in three years there will be full-fledged Coral peony bushes. In the spring, they are fed with nitrogen fertilizer, after flowering, complex mineral preparations are used for flowering plants.
Preparation for winter
While the foliage of Coral peonies is green, they do not touch it. In autumn, when the leaves begin to dry out, the stems are cut with pruners at a height of about 5 cm from the surface of the site, leaving small stumps. The earth in the flower bed is treated with a solution of copper sulphate to prevent fungal infections.
All cut parts are removed from the site and burned so that they do not serve as a source of infection
Diseases and pests
If Coral peonies dry and wither leaves, they need help. Only a specialist can determine the exact cause; many fungal diseases have similar symptoms. Peonies are susceptible to fusarium, gray rot (botrytis). All diseases must be fought with fungicides, such as Fundazol, Maxim, Fitosporin.
The preparations are diluted in water according to the instructions and watered all the peony bushes in the flower bed. For healthy plants, this procedure will be a preventive measure. Dried, stained leaves are cut and burned. From harmful insects, peonies are treated with insecticides.
Conclusion
Peony Coral is gaining popularity due to the beauty of flowering and disease resistance. The plant does not require special care, but it needs to be transplanted more often than ordinary species peonies. To create an attractive flower bed, you can choose varieties with different flowering periods.
